EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND POLICIES IMPACT ON SELECTED OIL PRODUCING AREAS OF IMO STATE

Abstract

This study investigated into the perception of residents of oil producing areason the effectiveness of environmental laws and policies of Nigeria in the  protection of oil producing communities against pollution arising from oil production activities. The fact that oil exploration and exploitation activities leave in its trail diverse environmental problems of varying degree arising from oil drilling, gas flaring, oil spillage incidents is a well established matter. Based on these, government of Nigeria over the years has put in place measures to avoid or combat to the best minimum these incidences through the formulation of laws and policies to ensure sustainable environment. But then, how effective are theselaws and policies in protecting the environment of oil producing areas? Since the oil producing areas have continued to complain on the devastation of their environment by the oil companies despite these laws and policies. To determine the effect of these environmental laws and policies on the protection of environment against pollution and degradation due to oil exploration and exploitation activities, data were collected with structured questionnaire administered to 150 respondents from selected households, out of which 130 were retrieved. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics in formof frequency counts and percentages while analysis of variance was used to test the relationship between environmental laws and policies and environmental protection. The result of the study revealed that almost all the respondents (92%) were aware of the existence of environmental laws and policies while 8% were not aware. The major components of the environment being affected by oil production activities include water bodies (33%), vegetation (23%), farmland (27%) and air (17%). There was no significant difference between environmental degradation and the establishment of environmental laws and policies (F-cal< F-tab) at 5% level of significance. Hence the result of the investigation revealed that the current environmental laws and policies have not offered sufficientprotection to the environment of oil producing areas of Imo State. The study therefore recommends a comprehensive review of the current environmental laws and policies as they affects the oil producing communities and the immediate establishment of an agency with an enhanced enforcement capability for the implementation of the law and policies.